Chapter 3: The Fake Heiress of the Wealthy Family (Part 3)

But she was too eager and exposed her own flaw.

She had finally… managed to have some interaction with Shen Ke.

“Yesterday, you said…”

“To come pick you up…”

“In the morning the next day.”

Feng Jian’s voice was a little hoarse. She paused after every few words, speaking very slowly, but without any stuttering.

She slightly raised her head and vaguely looked at Shen Ke through her bangs. Seeing Shen Ke’s long eyebrows furrow, the hand Feng Jian had at her side slowly clenched into a fist.

Would she be disliked?

Shen Ke’s brows were tightly furrowed. She sized Feng Jian up and down a few times before relaxing her expression. She remembered now—yesterday, she had indeed told Feng Jian to come pick her up at the school gate in the morning.

A lot had happened yesterday, and she had forgotten.

Shen Ke clenched her hand into a fist and held it to her lips, coughing lightly twice. “I was just testing you earlier. Very good, Little Mute. You did well.”

“It seems you took what I said to heart.”

Instead of being disliked, she was praised…

Feng Jian raised her head a little more and pushed the breakfast forward. “Breakfast.”

Shen Ke turned her head aside and reached out to push Feng Jian away entirely. Her soft palm carried warmth, and that warmth and softness invaded Feng Jian’s heart the instant they made contact.

Feng Jian stumbled back a step from the push, spilling some of the soy milk from her hand.

Shen Ke huffed and tossed her schoolbag to Feng Jian. “I don’t want to eat that stuff.” Besides, she had already eaten breakfast and wasn’t hungry at all.

Feng Jian securely hugged the schoolbag to her chest. It seemed to carry Shen Ke’s scent.

Shen Ke walked past Feng Jian toward the academic building, unable to see the near-obsessive gaze Feng Jian fixed on her from behind.

Shen Ke was in the liberal arts class, while Feng Jian was in the sciences class. Their classrooms weren’t even in the same building.

Shen Ke held her arms crossed and walked ahead with her head held high. Feng Jian kept her head down, holding the breakfast in one hand and the schoolbag in the other, looking just like a large dog following obediently in its mistress’s footsteps.

The moment Shen Ke entered the classroom, Feng Jian stopped at the classroom door.

Shen Ke took a few steps inside before realizing Feng Jian hadn’t followed. She turned her head and saw Feng Jian standing dumbly at the door.

Shen Ke frowned and snorted coldly. “What are you doing? Hurry up and bring my schoolbag over.”

“Can’t you even be a good dog?”

Shen Ke didn’t speak quietly. Some classmates lifted their heads from their books, saw it was Shen Ke, and quickly lowered them again.

It was Shen Ke, so nothing to worry about.

Everyone knew Shen Ke had a bad temper. No one could afford to provoke her, so no one wanted to get close.

As long as it didn’t involve them, they generally chose to ignore it.

Feng Jian pursed her lips and stepped into the classroom under the curious gazes of the other students. She followed Shen Ke to her seat and set the schoolbag down.

Shen Ke used people and then discarded them. She waved her hand dismissively. “Alright, you’re done here. You can go.” She was exceptionally cold and heartless.

Feng Jian neither nodded nor shook her head. She simply turned silently and walked out.

Shen Ke glanced over and felt that Feng Jian’s retreating back looked particularly pitiful.

“Wait, Little Mute. Come here.”

Feng Jian immediately turned back and came to stand in front of Shen Ke. Shen Ke raised her hand and handed her meal card to Feng Jian. “No. 1 Cafeteria at noon. Get me sweet-and-sour ribs, then save a seat and wait for me.” Normally, she waited for the driver to deliver lunch, but changing things up for a meal was fine.

Feng Jian took the meal card, which had a cute pink sticker on it, and softly replied, “Okay.” She would get to see her again at noon…

Feng Jian left.

Shen Ke sat alone at her desk, pondering when she should take the sample to an appraisal agency—or if she could entrust it to someone else.

Feng Jian returned to her own classroom, holding only Shen Ke’s meal card. She had dealt with the cold breakfast on the way.

The pink card lay quietly in her palm. Feng Jian clenched her hand and then relaxed it, blinking as her pale pink lips moved. She murmured Shen Ke’s name in a low voice.

She had seen Shen Ke once at fifteen, at a gathering of the rich. Yue Lingqing had brought her to that banquet.

That was the first time she had seen Shen Ke.

She had thought then, how could someone be so dazzling? With beautiful long curly hair, a black princess dress, a red gem crown on her head, and an arrogant expression—no ornate colorful oil painting could compare. She was like a princess born to be pampered, so beautiful that it left her speechless.

At fifteen, Shen Ke was already an unattainable existence, like the sun.

“Shen Ke’s meal card? Did you pick it up?” Yue Lingqing’s questioning voice came from beside her.

Feng Jian snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. “She gave it to me.”

Yue Lingqing frowned. “What for?”

Feng Jian: “To get her food.”

Yue Lingqing’s frown deepened. “Feng Jian, are you being bullied by her?”

“Don’t be afraid of her. She’s all bark, actually bullies the weak and fears the strong.”

Feng Jian shook her head. “She’s not bullying me.” She put the meal card into her bag. “I want to be with her.”

Yue Lingqing’s eyes flickered as she snorted with a laugh. “I know you like her, but don’t let love blind you.”

“Shen Ke’s that kind of person—I know her. Don’t worry, Feng Jian. I’ll go with you at noon.”

Feng Jian said, “No need.” Then she asked, “You… know her. So how can I… make her happy?”

It had been a long time since Yue Lingqing heard Feng Jian speak a full sentence. She knew this was something Feng Jian was very insecure about, so Feng Jian had gradually spoken less and less.

Yue Lingqing smiled. “Get her a girlfriend, and she’ll be happy.” She wasn’t lying—at least from what she knew, Shen Ke was always happy when she had a girlfriend.

At noon, Shen Ke strolled slowly to No. 1 Cafeteria.

She spotted Feng Jian’s conspicuous figure the moment she entered. Strangely, even though she could only clearly see the lower half of Feng Jian’s face, Feng Jian stood out entirely. At least, that’s how Shen Ke felt.

She could always spot Feng Jian first.

Feng Jian clearly saw her too and silently stood up, letting her get a better look.

Shen Ke walked over and plopped down in a seat. She stared intently at Feng Jian. Though they hadn’t spent much time together, Feng Jian had already formed a complete image in her mind: a poor, honest, and taciturn person.

Shen Ke looked down at her meal: ribs, fish, a vegetable dish, and the meal card placed nearby.

Honest, but diligent about the tasks she was given. Very obedient.

Feng Jian was usually silent. With Shen Ke not speaking, the atmosphere grew quiet.

Shen Ke had a small appetite and got full after half the ribs. She looked up to see Feng Jian across from her, who had already finished her meal at some point and was staring at her.

Shen Ke frowned and pushed her portion over. “Look at you. If you want to eat, just say so. Don’t keep staring at me. It’s all yours.” It even included the ribs with her bite marks.

Feng Jian didn’t refuse. She lowered her head and ate the rib Shen Ke had bitten into, chewing slowly as if savoring it carefully.

Shen Ke didn’t notice. She had already pulled out her phone to look up appraisal agencies.

Meanwhile, not far from the cafeteria, another gaze had been fixed on them.

Yue Lingqing bit into her apple with a crunch. How irritating.

A friend beside her asked, “Lingqing, what are you looking at? So engrossed.”

Yue Lingqing withdrew her gaze and smiled. “Nothing. Are you all done eating? Let’s go if you are.”

On Saturday, Shen Ke headed out early without calling the driver.

The Shen Family were all busy people. No one was home on weekends, and no one would notice her going out.

When she left the agency, Shen Ke’s emotions still hadn’t settled.

She had chosen a small agency. The big ones all had some connection to the Shen Family.

Sitting on a park bench, Shen Ke stared at the ground. She was actually very afraid, but she also really wanted to know.

She just had to wait until Monday for the results.

However, the appraisal results ended up in Shen Yi’s hands first.

“Boss, this is the sample Third Miss brought for testing, along with the report.”

Shen Yi removed her glasses and rubbed her temple. “Little Ke, oh Little Ke. If you hadn’t done this, nothing would have happened.”

She flipped open the report and glanced down indifferently. The result was as expected.

Shen Yi stood up, tossed the thin sheet of paper onto the desk, and called her parents. She thought that compared to her foolish little sister, she preferred a smart one.

On Monday, Shen Ke received the appraisal results—results she couldn’t believe.

She and Shen Yi shared no DNA relation, while Feng Jian and Shen Yi did.

Direct blood relatives.

This clichéd drama had really happened. She wasn’t a Shen Family member.

Shen Ke crumpled the paper into a ball. It didn’t matter. Right now, only she knew.

She tried her best to comfort herself, but her eyes still reddened inevitably.

She started to feel afraid. Shen Yi and Shen Yu had never liked her. If they learned the truth, she would definitely be kicked out of the Shen Family.

Lunch break was two hours. She had snuck out during it and now had to go back. She needed to act normal.

When she returned to school, the bell for class had just rung. The school gate was empty. As Shen Ke entered, she found Feng Jian standing not far away. She hadn’t gone to class.

Shen Ke walked up to Feng Jian and tilted her head up to look at her.

Feng Jian said nothing, silently holding out a tissue to Shen Ke.

She didn’t know what was wrong, only that Shen Ke was very sad right now—fearful and helpless, spilling from those clear eyes.

Feng Jian said softly, “Wipe.”

Smack!

Shen Ke fiercely swatted Feng Jian’s hand away. “It’s all your fault!” She started kicking with her feet.

Feng Jian didn’t resist, just took it. “Don’t be sad.”

This time, Shen Ke kicked hard. She was furious, even at herself for insisting on the appraisal.

After several kicks, Feng Jian didn’t cry out in pain, only kept comforting her. “Don’t be sad.”

Feng Jian’s comfort was as wooden and blank as she was, but to Shen Ke, it only amplified the unease in her heart.

Unable to hold back the surging tears any longer, Shen Ke bit her lower lip and let them spill out. “I hate you.”

“Feng Jian, I hate you!”

Feng Jian didn’t know how to comfort people. She stood there at a loss, like a wooden post.

Shen Ke didn’t cry loudly. She bit her lip hard, only leaking a few choked sobs when she couldn’t catch her breath. She sounded so aggrieved.

Feng Jian pursed her thin lips. Her fingers twitched as she asked softly, “Can… I hug you?”

Shen Ke glared at her upon hearing that, but the next second, she threw herself into Feng Jian’s arms. After all, she was just an adult girl who needed a hug right now.

“I hate you, Feng Jian. I hate you!”

Feng Jian’s body went rigid like wood. She never imagined she could get this close to Shen Ke one day.

Feng Jian slowly raised her hand, placing her right hand on the back of Shen Ke’s head and gently cradling it. Then she made no further moves.

Shen Ke sobbed for a good while before finally pulling away from Feng Jian’s embrace. But the first thing she did wasn’t to thank her—instead, with a hoarse, crying voice, she said lowly, “Feng Jian, don’t appear in front of me again.”

Her scorching blood froze instantly. Feng Jian stiffly turned her eyes and asked hoarsely, “Why.”

Shen Ke sneered. “Because I hate you.” Heaven had played a cruel joke on her, one she couldn’t accept.

Her smile no longer held any coquettishness—it was pure coldness laced with barbs, pricking Feng Jian’s heart.

She hated her…

Feng Jian’s fingers began to tremble as she let Shen Ke brush past her and walk away.

“Don’t…”

Perhaps her words really worked. She didn’t see Feng Jian again for the entire week.

She did occasionally spot that annoying Yue Lingqing and her ex-girlfriend who had called her dumb but rich.

Shen Ke felt listless. The week had been hard on her.

She thought she shouldn’t have taken her anger out on Feng Jian. Feng Jian was innocent.

After all, only she knew. As long as she didn’t say anything, no one else would.

With that in mind, Shen Ke shook her head vigorously. She wasn’t a good person anyway—why feel guilty?

Days passed peacefully without incident, and Shen Ke’s mood gradually improved.

She would take this secret to her grave.

Time flew by. Before she knew it, Saturday arrived. After washing up in the morning and leaving her room, Shen Ke heard voices coming from the living room.

For some reason, a bad premonition rose in her heart.

She hurried down the stairs to the living room. Familiar faces appeared before her.

Dad, Mom, Big Sis, Second Sis… and Feng Jian!

In an instant, Shen Ke’s heart stopped abruptly.

Shen Yi was the first to approach Shen Ke. She raised her hand to tidy Shen Ke’s hair and said softly, “Little Ke, how long did you think you could hide it?”

Shen Ke clenched her fingers tightly. At that moment, she finally understood what Shen Yi had meant back then by “you have to obey.” In her eyes, Shen Yi’s delicate face turned into that of a demon.

She broke free from Shen Yi and hurried toward Shen Father and Shen Mother, her eyes red as she shouted, “Mama, Papa, you—you knew.”

Shen Mother nodded. Wrinkles had already creased her face, making her look even more stern. “Such an important matter—why hide it? Did you think you could keep it from Big Sis and the others?”

“Playing with women really messed up your brain.”

“As expected, you’re not Shen Family blood. I always said our Shen Family never produced any homosexuals—how did one appear with you?”

Shen Mother’s gaze had turned indifferent. From the moment Shen Ke came out, she had completely withdrawn all her affection for Shen Ke.

She was inherently a profit-driven merchant; blood ties held little weight in her heart.

Shen Father merely sighed and shook his head at Shen Ke, never expecting that the child he had raised for eighteen years wasn’t his own.

Shen Yu’s face remained expressionless.

Shen Ke looked at them helplessly, her mind buzzing.

Feng Jian stood in place, her grip tightening on the suitcase handle as she began to regret her decision.

She shouldn’t have come along; that way, Shen Ke wouldn’t have to suffer.